Elachista atricomella Stainton, 1849
black-headed dwarf
mine
The larva begins in autumn the making of a long, narrow, corridor with a fine central line of grey frass. The corridor is straight or lightly wavy, and descends into the leaf sheath, or even into the stem or rootstock. The larva regularly leaves the mine to begin making a new one. Pupation external.
hostplants
Cyperaceae, Poacea; narrowly oligophagous
Bromus; Carex hostiana; Dactylis glomerata; Melica nutans; Milium effusum.
Dactylis appears to be the main hostplant.
phenology
Larvae from late autumn till in May (Bland, 1996a; Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen, 1977a).
BENELUX
BE recorded (Phegea, 2009).
NE recorded (Kuchlein & de Vos, 1999a; Microlepidoptera.nl, 2009).
LUX recorded (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
distribution within Europe
Almost all Europe, except the Iberian and Balkan Peninsula, and the Mediterranean Islands (Fauna Europaea, 2009).
larva
Pale greenish yellow; head and prothoracic plate light brown; prothoracic plate made up of two narrow elongate sclerites.
synonyms
Elachista holdenella Stainton, 1854.
references
Baldizzone (2004a), Baran (2005a), Bidzilya, Budashkin & Zhakov (2016a), Bland (1996a), Buhr (1935b), Buszko (1990a), Corley, Marabuto & Pires (2007a), Hering (1957a), Kuchlein & Donner (1993a), Kuchlein & de Vos (1999a), Liška ao (2000a), Parenti & Varalda (1994a), De Prins (1998a), Robbins (1991a), Schütze (1931a), Sønderup (1949a), Sruoga & Ivinskis (2005a), Šulcs (1996a), Szőcs (1977a), Traugott-Olsen & Nielsen (1977a), Wörz (1957a).